Cocoa Prints

With the beautiful sunshine and long summer days, there is no better time to host that an out door shower or birthday party.  Summertime themes give a lot of flexibility with colors, decorations, food, games, and favors.  For summertime themed showers they using bright colors like pinks and greens or go with a more traditional primary color like reds and yellows or even a red white and blue combination. 
 

In the sprit of summer time, we have a great selection of fun designs that would definitely set the stage for your outdoor event.  We also experimented with some fun summer drinks ideas to keep kids and adults cool. 

Rasberry Lemonade 

INGREDIENTS

• 1 (12 fluid ounce) can frozen raspberry lemonade concentrate
• 3 cups water
• 3/4 teaspoon lime juice
• 1 (12 fluid ounce) can or bottle lemon-lime flavored carbonated beverage
• 1 cup crushed ice
• 1 cup fresh raspberries, garnish
• 1 cup fresh mint, garnish

DIRECTIONS

1.       In a large punch bowl, combine raspberry lemonade concentrate, water and lime juice. Stir in lemon-lime soda and crushed ice. Garnish each glass with a fresh raspberry and a mint leaf.
Watermelon Sherbert Smoothie (REALLY GOOD!) 

3 cups fresh watermelon cubes
1 cup crushed ice
1 cup watermelon, raspberry or lime sherbert
4 tsp. lime juice
1/2 cup miniature semisweet or white chocolate chips
About 10 minutes before you’re ready to mix the smoothies, place four tall glasses in the freezer to frost. Then wash the whole melon as you would other fruits and vegetables, and cut it into quarters. (The number of quarters you’ll need to yield 3 cups of cubes will depend on the size of the melon.) Slice each quarter you plan to use lengthwise into three wedges, then slice the flesh away from the rind. Use a fork to scrape away the seeds and chop the melon into cubes.
Combine the crushed ice, watermelon cubes, lime juice and watermelon, raspberry, or lime sherbert, and blend until smooth.
Pour the mixture into the frosted glasses and top each one with a half dozen or so miniature chocolate chips. Serves four.
 

 
 What little girl doesn’t dream of being a princess?  Make your little girls dream a reality by creating the ultimate princess party.  Here are some ideas that are sure to make her “royal” event memorable. 
·          Ask guests to wear their fanciest dresses.  Be sure to have some extras just in case someone forgets.  You can also find some old jewelry or purchase inexpensive costume jewelry for the girls to accessorize with.
·          Decorations: Make your child’s party extra special by using the Uzuri Kid Kidz’ Princess Amira party supply pack which includes cups, plates, table cover, treat bags, and napkins all printed with the beautiful Princess Amira.    
Fill the party room with pink, purple and white helium balloons attached to matching, curled ribbons.  Weight some of the balloons down and allow some of the balloons to float to the ceiling.  Decorate doorways with pink or white tulle and white Christmas lights to set the stage for this royal event.  Set a chair by itself designated for the princess to sit on when she opens her presents. You can decorate this throne with tulle and ribbon.  You can have each guest sit in the chair to have their picture taken as well.
·          Craft Activity:  Keep the theme of the party flowing by letting the guest make their very own tiara!  We found a great idea for a quick and easy tiara.  Here is what you’ll need: 
o        Metallic Gold Poster Board
o        Stickers and Gems ( found in local craft stores)
o        Double sided tape
o        Large Paper Clips
1. Cut out a basic tiara shape for each guest from the poster board. (Parents should do this in advance of the party.)

2. Trim the midsection to create a fancy edge.

3. Adorn the crowns with stickers and plastic gems attached with double-sided tape.

4. To fit each crown, wrap it around the princess’s head and paper-clip the overlapped ends.
·          Food:  Finger sandwiches and “tea” are the perfect goodies for a princess. Make peanut butter/jelly, cheese, or turkey sandwiches, depending on your guests. Use a star-shaped cookie cutter or kitchen scissors to create star sandwiches. Serve pink punch made from pink soda or lemonade and hand out princess fruit snacks after the kids have eaten.
·          Games to Play: Start out by reading the African version of the classic story, Princess and the Pea written by Rachel Isadora.    Place four or five pillows on the floor and put a green tennis ball or golf ball underneath one of the pillows. Guests take turns sitting on the pillows and trying to guess which pillow has the pea underneath. There are also may other great African American Themed books available on http://www.msoyonline.com/mahogany_momma/mom_blackprincess.php.
“Pin the Kiss on the Frog” is another fun game your guests will love. Draw a basic frog on a piece of green poster board. Cut the frog out and glue it to a piece of white poster board or pin it right to the wall. Use red or pink craft foam to cut out “lips” and add a piece of rolled tape to the back of each set of lips. Children need to get the lips as close to the frog’s mouth as they can to turn him into a handsome prince!
Hide a large amount of craft jewels in a large container of sand. Let your guests take turns searching for treasured gems to take home as a royal souvenir.
Goodie Bags.  Fill your Princess Amira goodie bags with treats such as glitter lip gloss, plastic jewelry, candy necklaces, chocolate gold coins and hair accessories. Small candies can be added as well – remember to think pink, white and purple.
With the Princess Amira party supplies and these exciting party ideas, your little princess will remember her party for years to come!

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